NEW! SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS IN EARLY SPRING

SAT 1 APRIL – SAT 8 APRIL, SAT 15 APRIL – SAT 22 APRIL 2023

SAT 30 MARCH – SAT 6 APRIL 2024

PRICES: from £1295pp

No single supp. Full details are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 9.

An absorbing spring wildlife experience in Scotland! All resident birds are displaying or breeding, winter birds are still here in good numbers, and summer visitors are arriving daily. We travel west to find eagles and to the Cairngorm plateau to seek Ptarmigan. An exciting time to be birding in Scotland!

In Strathspey we are placed in the middle of the best birding habitats, and a local drive should produce Black Grouse popping and cooing at the lek. Red Grouse are present too and later in the week we head for the hills to seek Ptarmigan. The mountains may also produce Snow Bunting, early Ring Ouzel and Raven, and we may see Red-throated Diver, Goldeneye, Peregrine and Crested Tit as we descend, plus Redpoll and Siskin flocks in local birch woods. Scottish Crossbill are found in the pine forests and Slavonian Grebe, Whooper Swan and many breeding wader species are likely as we enjoy the best of local birding. In the moorland and hills we search for raptors including Peregrine, Merlin and perhaps the first returning Osprey, while a moorland drive may give views of Black-throated Diver on lochs. Capercaillie are increasingly scarce, and we no longer look for them at this time of year, though incidental sightings are possible. Watching the weather, we plan an excursion westwards to find both eagle species, and wintering seabirds perhaps including Iceland and Glaucous Gull and Black Guillemot.

We also enjoy a great day birding along the Moray Coast, where newly arriving migrants complement remaining winter visitors. This day can easily include rafts of Common Eider, Goosander, Merganser, Common and Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Great Northern and Red-throated Diver, Glaucous and Iceland Gull. Lots of spring waders include Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot, Dunlin and Ringed Plover maybe in bright summer plumage. We watch out also for farmland specialities including Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer and Grey Partridge which are all still found on this fertile northern coastline. Sandwich Tern have arrived, and with Gannet, Fulmar, auks, gulls and more this is a really rewarding day. A fantastic tour of the breeding and wintering birdlife of the Scottish Highlands!

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Spring into Scotland including Mull (p16), Highlands and Ardnamurchan (p15).

SAT 15 APRIL – SAT 22 APRIL, SAT 22 APRIL – SAT 29 APRIL 2023

SAT 13 APRIL – SAT 20 APRIL, SAT 20 APRIL – SAT 27 APRIL 2024

PRICES: from £1695pp

Early Birder Prices from £1545pp (subject to availability).

Contact us before booking

No single supplement. Full details and a Trip Report are on our website.

Please read FIELD NOTES on page 9.

A fantastic holiday from Heatherlea, featuring a rewarding few days on Skye. Key targets here are Golden and White-tailed Eagle, and we should enjoy prolonged views of both as they contest territories.

Travelling to or from Skye we seek roadside Ptarmigan on a mountain pass if weather allows. On arrival on the ‘Misty Isle’, we visit wild and remote corners where birders seldom venture, with plenty of time to scan for Golden and White-tailed Eagle, Peregrine, Merlin and Hen Harrier. Along the miles of coastline, we catch up with Great Northern Diver and Black Guillemot, and migrants are possible at these underwatched locations, often showing very well. These may include scarcities such as Whimbrel, Greenshank and White Wagtail, with Wheatear, Stonechat, Whinchat and Meadow Pipit turning up everywhere on the heaths and rough pastures. We have chances of Otter, with seals and Harbour Porpoise offshore too. We have chosen our timing carefully, targeting three diver species (very occasionally four with Whitebilled!) in full summer plumage.

The rest of our time is spent around our home territory in Strathspey, where a great spring experience awaits. Resident birds are breeding, many summer visitors are now here, and birding is excellent with Black Grouse busy on the lek plus Crested Tit, Redpoll, Siskin and Scottish Crossbill. Capercaillie are increasingly scarce, and we no longer look for them at this time of year, though incidental sightings are possible. This is a very cost effective way of including Skye in your Highland birding holiday, combining the island with all our special spring birds.

One day we visit the mountain for Ptarmigan if needed and possibly Snow Bunting. On a round-up day we target missed species or visit the Moray Coast for exciting birding. This time of year produces a high birdlist, with large numbers of wintering birds overlapping with those arriving to breed.

Total species for the holiday 120 - 130. Other wildlife should include Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal and Mountain Hare. Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise are possible. Five nights at Mountview Hotel. Two nights at a comfortable hotel on Skye.

SAT 29 APRIL – SAT 6 MAY, SAT 6 MAY – SAT 13 MAY 2023

SAT 27 APRIL – SAT 4 MAY, SAT 4 MAY – SAT 11 MAY 2024

PRICES: from £1695pp

Early Birder Prices from £1595pp (subject to availability).

Contact us before booking!

No single supplement. Full details and a Trip Report are on our website. Please read FIELD NOTES on page 9.

Birding the wonderful Scottish Highlands in May is one of the greatest pleasures available in the UK. With summer visitors arriving in good numbers, and key speciality birds still displaying or breeding, there is so much going on. We enjoy six tremendous days of wildlife watching, and all within striking distance of our Hotel here in Nethy Bridge. All the special birds of the Scottish Highlands are in our sights, and this is a perfect option to make the most of this wonderful time of year.

An ideal tour for the first time visitor or the seasoned expert, 'Birding the Highlands in May' offers a wealth of variety. On local days we look for forest specialities including Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill, plus Slavonian Grebe on moorland lochans. Capercaillie are increasingly scarce, and we no longer look for them at this time of year, though incidental sightings are possible. Raptors including White-tailed Eagle will be at the fore on a day touring the stunning west with summer-plumaged Redthroated, Black-throated and Great Northern Diver and Otter likely too. Our Troup Head boat trip, scouring cliffs busy with seabirds will be another highlight, while time exploring estuaries, coastal bays and farmland on the Moray and Black Isle help amass a high bird-list! And, just when you thought you had been everywhere with Heatherlea.... Crown Estates and Royal Deeside

.....we came up with a brilliant addition to our spring itinerary! This brand new day takes you eastwards from Nethy Bridge to uncover some real delights. The Black Grouse lek here is a great start to our day, and we watch for breeding Goshawk nearby. Travelling through fields of waders we reach Royal Deeside to have a chance of Ptarmigan without walking, before stopping to look for raptors which might include Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Osprey and Red Kite among other species. On the Crown Estates at Glenlivet, we have exclusive vehicle access to secluded spots. You won’t see many other birders, and from these we are well place to look for Golden Eagle and Merlin, Raven, Ring Ouzel, Red Grouse and a range of other woodland and moorland species make a truly special day. In previous years we have seen ten raptor species on this day!

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Spring into Scotland inc Mull (p16), Birding the Highlands in May (p17).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

North Ron & Orkney in Spring for birders (p32).

Total species for the holiday 120 - 130. Mammals should include Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal and Mountain Hare. Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise are possible.

Seven nights at Mountview Hotel.

Combine with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Highlands and Skye (p17), Highlands & Corncrake (p18).

SCOTTISH ISLANDS

North Ron & Orkney in Spring for birders (p32), Outer Hebrides in Spring (p33) Shetland in Spring for birders (p33), Birding the North Coast 500 (p18), Shetland Island Explorer (p34).